FeaturedHow to Effectively Run TikTok Ads from Start to Finish for Beginners

If you've scrolled through TikTok in the last month, you've probably watched short, humorous clips that abruptly make you want to buy something. That's the power of TikTok ads—totally integrated into regular content but with massive results.

In 2025, TikTok is not only a platform for watching videos. It's one of the most powerful platforms to promote and grow your business. Whether you are just starting out or you already have an online store, TikTok advertising can help you find new customers faster than ever before.

This step-by-step guide walks you through operating TikTok ads even if you are a complete newbie. You will learn how to create a TikTok Business account, come up with great ad content, get in front of your target audience, and avoid common mistakes. So let's begin.

What Are TikTok Ads and How Do They Work for Businesses?

TikTok ads are short videos that pop up when users view their For You pages. The ads can look just like content, but they're actually for driving traffic, generating sales, or building brand awareness.

Here's why TikTok ads excel:

Full-Screen, Immersive Experience

Unlike banner ads or pop-ups, TikTok ads appear in a vertical, full-screen format, just like regular TikToks. This gives your brand the viewer’s full attention—no distractions. The ad becomes part of the user’s natural scroll, making it feel less intrusive and more engaging.

High Engagement Rates

TikTok is built for interaction. Users are used to liking, commenting, sharing, and even creating duets or stitches with videos they like. That means your ad doesn’t just get watched—it can go viral if it's well-made. Many brands have seen organic boosts just from people resharing or reacting to their paid content.

Highly Creative Tools and Formats

TikTok gives advertisers access to the same creative tools that regular users enjoy:

• Music and trending sounds to tap into what's popular.
• Filters and AR effects to make ads fun and interactive.
• Text overlays, transitions, and editing tools to tell a story in seconds.

Companies use TikTok Ads Manager to create and control these ads. There, you choose your goals (e.g., clicks to your website or purchases), whom you'd like to target, and add your video. The site's smart algorithm then shows your ads to people most likely to take action.

Why TikTok Ads Matter in 2025 for Sellers

TikTok has taken off fast—and that means enormous potential for vendors. According to Insider Intelligence forecasts, TikTok's international ad expenditure will reach $23.6 billion by 2025, almost doubling from 2023.

Why?

Because TikTok shoppers love discovering products through video. In particular:

• 38% of users claim to have bought a product after seeing it on TikTok.
• Product hashtags like #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt have garnered over 70 billion views.
• TikTok ads convert better than Instagram or Facebook ads.

If your business is going to stay at the forefront in 2025, TikTok ads aren't an option—they're a requirement.

How to Make a TikTok Business Account and Ads Manager

Before you'll be permitted to start running ads on TikTok, you'll need to set a few things up:

Step 1: Create a TikTok Business Account

1. Go to business.tiktok.com and click "Get Started."

2. Sign up with your email or TikTok login.

3. Enter your business name, country, and contact information.

4. After creating your account, proceed to your TikTok Ads Manager dashboard.

Step 2: Set Up Payment and Business Info

Add your payment method (credit card or manual pay). Enter company name, address, and tax ID if necessary.

Step 3: Create Your First Ad Campaign

Click “Create” and choose your ad goal (Traffic, Conversions, App Installs, etc.). Name your campaign and set your budget.

Once that’s done, you’re ready to start building ads that work.

Targeting the Right Audience on TikTok

Running TikTok ads is only half the job—getting them in front of the right people is what really drives success.

Think about it: You wouldn't show winter coats to someone who is in the desert, right? Same with TikTok ads. You'd much rather show your product to people who actually care about it.

That's where TikTok's strong targeting features come into the picture. The platform gathers a lot of information (what people watch, like, and buy), which makes your ads show up on people who are more apt to take action.

Principal Targeting Options You Can Use

When developing your campaign on TikTok Ads Manager, you can target users by:

• Location: Choose cities, regions, or countries where your customers live.
• Age and Gender: Target age groups (13–17, 18–24, 25–34, etc.) and gender.
• Language: Show adverts in the language your target audience understands.
• Interests: Choose from categories like fashion, gaming, food, or travel.
• Behaviors: Target people based on how they interact with videos, like watching till the end or clicking links.
• Device Type: Reach users based on mobile type (Android or iOS), connection (WiFi or 4G), or price range of their phones.

Smart Tips for Better Targeting

• Start broad if you’re new. Let TikTok’s algorithm learn who your audience is.
• Use Lookalike Audiences: These are new customers who resemble your past buyers.
• Retarget those who already watched your videos or came to your website.
• Don't mix too many interest categories—keep it easy to see what is working.

TikTok's targeting algorithm improves with time. The more you try and optimize, the better your tiktok ads will perform.

How to Make High-Converting TikTok Ad Creatives

Now that you have an idea of who to reach, the next leap is creating video ads that people will watch—and purchase from.

What Does "High-Converting" Mean?

A high-converting ad gets people to do something, like click your link, visit your store, or purchase. The goal isn't views—it's results.

TikTok users love content that is fast, engaging, and real. That means TikTok ads need to feel like TikTok—is not like a typical commercial.

Proven TikTok Ad Formats Which Work

It's important to understand the different ad formats available. Each format serves a unique purpose—some focus on boosting engagement, while others aim to drive traffic or build brand recognition. Here's a detailed look at the 6 main TikTok ad types you can choose from:

1. TopView Ads

• What it is: The very first full-screen video users see when they open TikTok.
• Details: Up to 60 seconds long with sound autoplay enabled, delivering extremely high visibility and attention.
• When to use: Perfect for launching new products, big sales, or brand awareness campaigns that need maximum impact.
• Tips: Make the first few seconds highly engaging to prevent users from skipping. High production quality is essential.

2. Spark Ads

• What it is: Paid promotion of existing organic videos—either your own or influencer/user-generated content.
• Details: Retains original likes, comments, and shares to boost authenticity and trustworthiness.
• When to use: Great for amplifying influencer collaborations or popular UGC to increase reach and engagement.
• Tips: Select well-performing organic videos as Spark Ads to maximize ad effectiveness and conversions.

3. Carousel Ads

• What it is: Swipeable ads featuring multiple images or videos within a single ad unit.
• Details: Allows showcasing various products, styles, or features in one interactive ad format.
• When to use: Ideal for displaying product ranges, bundles, or multiple offers in one go.
• Tips: Ensure consistent visual style across carousel cards, and use clear, concise captions with a strong call-to-action.

4. Brand Effects

• What it is: Custom branded AR filters or effects users can apply in their TikTok videos.
• Details: Drives user interaction and encourages viral, user-generated brand content.
• When to use: Use when you want to increase brand awareness through fun, shareable experiences.
• Tips: Design effects to be simple, engaging, and aligned with your brand personality to inspire creativity.

5. Playable Ads

• What it is: Interactive ads allowing users to try a mini-game or product demo directly within the ad.
• Details: Boosts engagement and time spent, helping drive app installs or showcase product features.
• When to use: Best for gaming apps, software demos, or products benefiting from interactive previews.
• Tips: Keep gameplay short and focused on key features to maintain user interest and encourage conversions.

6. Top Feed Ads

• What it is: Ads placed at the very top of a user’s “For You” feed.
• Details: Prime placement that ensures high visibility and increased engagement rates.
• When to use: Great for promoting new product launches, limited-time offers, or special campaigns.
• Tips: Use bold visuals and clear calls-to-action to grab attention quickly and drive clicks.

Best Practices for TikTok Ad Creatives

• Hook quick: Grab attention within the first 3 seconds.
• Put captions and text overlays: Many viewers don't watch with sound.
• Keep it short: 15–30 seconds long is optimal.
• Show results early: Don't save the product benefit for the end; show the result sooner.
• Have a distinct call-to-action (CTA): "Buy now," "Shop the link," or "Click to learn more."

Tools to Make Better TikTok Ads

• CapCut: The official TikTok app for editing, great to include text and effects.
• Canva: Easy enough for overlays, thumbs, and first cuts.
• Smartphones are enough: Elaborate equipment is not needed to create successful content. The majority of viral ads are filmed on phones.

Together, clever targeting and great creative content form the foundation of a successful TikTok ads campaign. If your ads speak directly to the right people—and look like they're having fun, being themselves, videos—you're on the right track to growing your tiktok business.

TikTok Ads Budget and Bidding Clarified

Not sure how much does TikTok ads cost? You're not the only one.

TikTok lets you set a daily or lifetime budget, and you can start by setting as low as $20 per day. After that, the platform will show your ads as many times as it can within your budget.

You'll also need to select a bidding strategy:

• Lowest cost: TikTok gets the most out of your spend.
• Cost cap: You set the maximum cost per outcome.
• Bid cap: You specify how much to bid for TikTok in the ad auction.

For beginners, start at Lowest cost and adjust as you see results.

Tracking and optimizing Your TikTok Ads Performance

Advertising is not all "set it and forget it." You'll need to check how they're performing—and optimize for improvement.

In TikTok Ads Manager, you can see:

• Impressions (how many people saw your ad).
• Clicks and CTR (click-through rate).
• Conversions (actions or purchases made).
• Cost per result (how much each action is costing you).

If something's not working—like a low CTR or high cost—test swapping out your:

• Video creative.
• Audience targeting.
• Budget or bid strategy.

A/B testing is your best friend here. Test two versions of the same ad and see which performs better.

Why to Utilize a TikTok Ads Instrument or Proxy Like ZiBird for Safer Ad Operations

If you work on TikTok ads for numerous stores or clients, it will be dangerous using one computer or IP. TikTok might think that your accounts are connected, and that can cause account bans or payment holds.

That's where an instrument like ZiBird is useful. ZiBird is built for TikTok marketers and sellers. It offers every ad account its own isolated browser environment, clean IP, and safe login. That means:

• No linked accounts.
• No spurious logins.
• Safer ad campaigns.

ZiBird has over 4 million users across 20+ countries now and makes it possible for marketers to run TikTok business operations seamlessly—especially in teams or at scale.

If you’re serious about growing with TikTok ads, using a solution like ZiBird is a smart and safe move.

Conclusion: Turning TikTok Ads Into a Scalable Sales Channel

TikTok isn’t just about fun videos anymore. With the right strategy, TikTok ads can bring real traffic, real sales, and real growth to your business in 2025.

Start with a TikTok Business account. Get mastering the art of targeting the right individuals. Create scroll-stopping material. Then track your results and adjust often.

And if you wish to scale up securely, apps like ZiBird can make your advertisement operations safer and smoother.

It's time to make the jump now. Your next customer is probably scrolling TikTok right now—why not pop up on their screen?